Comrades Marathon
The world's greatest ultramarathon -- 90 kilometers between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
Durban to Pietermaritzburg (alternates direction annually)
June (typically second Sunday)
~87 km
1,800 m
~20,000 athletes
Course Highlights
- Valley of a Thousand Hills landscape
- Five named hills (Cowies, Fields, Botha's, Inchanga, Polly Shortts)
- Zulu community support along the route
- 12-hour cutoff and closing of the gates
- Alternating up run / down run direction
The Course
The Comrades Marathon travels between the coastal city of Durban and the inland city of Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The direction alternates each year: the "up run" goes from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, climbing roughly 1,700 meters over the course, while the "down run" reverses the direction with a net descent but still features significant climbing.
The course follows the old main road (N3) through the Valley of a Thousand Hills, a dramatic landscape of rolling green hills, deep valleys, and Zulu homesteads. The terrain is relentlessly undulating, with five major hills that are named and feared: Cowies Hill, Fields Hill, Botha's Hill, Inchanga, and Polly Shortts. Each hill has its own character, and the cumulative effect of the constant climbing and descending is punishing.
The atmosphere along the course is uniquely South African, with communities turning out in force to support runners with music, dance, and encouragement. The strict 12-hour cutoff adds urgency, and the famous "closing of the gates" at the finish line, where runners still on the course when the gun fires are not recognized as finishers, creates dramatic final-hour scenes that have become part of running folklore.
History
The Comrades Marathon was founded by World War I veteran Vic Clapham in 1921 to honor the South African soldiers who died during the war. The first race had 34 starters and 16 finishers on the road between Pietermaritzburg and Durban.
It has since grown into the world's largest ultramarathon, with approximately 20,000 runners participating each year. The race holds deep cultural significance in South Africa and has become a unifying event that transcends racial and social boundaries. Earning a Comrades medal is considered one of the greatest achievements in endurance sport.
How to Train for Comrades
Train for relentless hills
The five named hills are just the biggest features of a constantly undulating course. Include long runs on rolling terrain every week and practice maintaining effort on climbs while recovering on descents. Flat-trained runners will struggle enormously.
Respect the 12-hour cutoff
The strict 12-hour time limit means every minute counts. Practice pacing for long efforts and know your intermediate cutoff times at each timing mat. Walking the hills and running the flats and downhills is a common and effective strategy.
Prepare for the distance beyond marathon
At roughly 87 kilometers, Comrades is more than double a marathon. Include several ultra-distance long runs (40-50 kilometers) in your training and practice eating and drinking for efforts lasting 8-12 hours.
Qualification
Runners must complete a qualifying marathon in under 4:50 (for men) or 5:00 (for women) within the qualifying period.
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